by Lee Rose
She could hear Chico cursing and yelling behind her, trying to catch up with her. “You can’t get away from me, Lacy! You broke my nose, bitch, and you will suffer before I kill you!”
He was being so loud. Surely someone would hear them. There were lots of farms out here, Stella had told her once. She was terrified but she kept on going. She wasn’t giving up no matter what. She stumbled over some tree roots and fell but she got right back up. The bottom of her feet stung but she ignored the pain. A branch hit her cheek but she ignored the sting she felt. She had no idea if she was headed deeper into the woods or not. It was so dark and she couldn’t see anything. She had never been in the woods before and she was terrified. Were there animals out here, animals that eat people? Why hadn’t she paid more attention to learning about the woods?
After about fifteen minutes of running, she ducked down and hid behind a log for a moment so she could catch her breath. Her chest was hurting and she took a deep breath so she could calm down. I need to get into better shape, she told herself hysterically. She couldn’t feel her arms anymore either. She sat still for a few minutes, trying to think. Running in circles would do her no good. She needed to concentrate and not panic. She couldn’t hear Chico’s footsteps or yelling anymore. Did he turn around and get lost? She hoped so. Should she make a run for it? She quietly stood up and listened for a second, when she heard no noises, she took a chance and started running again, ignoring the coldness and the pain in her feet. She couldn’t just sit on the ground all night crying, although she was tempted to. She had come this far and she was determined to escape these woods and make it back to Ryan’s arms.
* * * *
“We found Chico’s campsite,” Gabe reported over the walkie-talkie. He gave them the coordinates. “They’re not here. She must have gotten away from him.”
“On it,” said Logan and sped up. They were only seconds away from there.
Ryan made sure his gun was loaded and ready. He’d just found Lacy. No way was he going to lose her! He’d kill Chico first. They parked next to Gabe’s Jeep and got out. They went running toward Reynolds Farm as fast as they could. Please God, let her be alive! Ryan thought to himself as he ran with his heart beating loudly in his chest. He had never felt such crippling fear in his life. She was never leaving his sight again!
They found Ethan and Gabe right away looking around. The campsite was empty and quiet but there was evidence of a struggle then he saw the blood and groaned. Was Lacy running around in the woods bleeding and hurt? He felt his panic rising but didn’t give in to it. Lacy needed him strong and clearheaded. He was not leaving these woods without her, no matter what.
“She must be on the run,” Ethan said, pointing to the two sets of tracks going deeper into the woods. One was heavy, someone wearing boots. The other was barely visible.
“She’s alive, Ryan,” Gabe told him quietly. “She was smart enough to get away from him and we will find her alive.”
Ethan kept going and they followed soundlessly, listening for any noises. As they entered deeper into the woods away from town they heard yelling, it was faint but they followed it, running as fast as they could.
* * * *
Lacy kept on running. She had no idea how long she had been running or if she was even close to town or a house. All the trees look the same, she thought frantically. She was starting to get hysterical and she wanted to sit on the ground and give up. She no longer felt the cold but she was tired. What if she was running in circles and ran straight into Chico? She had heard him yelling out her name a few minutes ago. Suddenly she ran into a hard body in the dark and screamed loudly struggling to get away. “No! No!” She had to make it to Ryan! She had to!
“Shh, shh, Lacy, it’s me, Gabe. Ryan is behind me.” She heard the whisper in her ear and felt arms go around her, trying to keep her from falling to the ground.
Lacy sank to her knees on the ground, breaking down with relief and crying hysterically. “Ryan? Chico is out there. He has a big knife and he tried to rape me but I got away. I think I lost him,” she told them, sobbing loudly. She saw the four men standing there looking at her with shock, but she didn’t have the strength to get back up. She hurt all over and she wasn’t sure she would ever feel warm again. She wanted to lie there and cry for a while. She was exhausted, the adrenaline fading away and the pain rushing forward.
Ryan held his anger in when he saw her torn clothes and bloody feet and her arms tied behind her back. Ethan handed him a knife, his face cold and angry at Lacy’s condition. Ryan got on his knees next to her and cut the rope, rubbing her arms up and down when she cried out in pain. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her, hugging her tightly and covering her with his body and warmth. Her body was shaking uncontrollably from the cold and probably from shock. Chico was going to be one sorry asshole when they caught him. He’d make sure of that personally.
Ryan held Lacy tightly, rocking her back and forth. His own body was trembling hard. He was trying to hold all his emotions in before he unmanned himself. He wanted to break down and scream his rage into the night. What had Chico done to his woman? The rest of them looked just as angry as Ryan did. They were standing guard around them so Chico wouldn’t sneak up on them.
“I’m scared. He’s still out there,” Lacy cried, grabbing Ryan’s shirt as tight as she could, snuggling into him as if she could crawl inside him and hide. “He’s crazy, Ryan. I mean insane crazy.” She knew she sounded hysterical but she couldn’t help it, nor could she make herself stop crying. She felt cold all the way from the inside of her and her feet were throbbing now that she wasn’t running anymore. “We got to get out of here, please. He was right behind me. He’ll kill us.”
“We won’t let him get you again, Lacy. I promise you that,” Ethan swore, his voice cracking with anger. He looked straight into her eyes, promising her safety and revenge. That was the last thing she saw before she gave in to the blackness and fainted.
Ryan was dying inside. His heart ached with pain at seeing Lacy so terrified, and he wanted to go after that scumbag himself, but Lacy had to come first. She had passed out and she needed medical attention. She had a big bump on her head and God knew what other injuries she was suffering.
Gabe seemed to see Ryan’s dilemma and assured him. “Take her to Doc’s. We won’t let him get out of these woods, Ryan. I promise you that.”
Logan and Ethan nodded, checking their weapons and getting ready to hunt. They would get Chico and put him in jail where he belonged.
Doc lived less than half a mile from here. He’d have to carry her there but he could make it unless he ran into Chico.
“Lacy! I’m gonna kill you, bitch, after I make you suffer!” Chico yelled loudly about twenty feet from them. “You can’t run far enough, Lacy, so why don’t you just come out!”
Logan looked ready to take Chico down. “You’ll be safe taking her to Doc’s house. We know where he is now.”
Gabe grunted with disgust, shaking his head. “What an idiot, making all that noise.”
Ryan nodded, picking Lacy up. “Thanks guys,” he said in a choking voice. He blinked back the tears. Later he would give his emotions free rein, but for now he had to stay strong for Lacy’s sake.
He took off the opposite way of where Chico was. Doc didn’t live too far but Ryan would walk a hundred miles for Lacy if he had to. He felt a few tears slipping from his eyes but he didn’t care. He was so grateful she was alive and he vowed to take care of her forever.
Chapter Thirteen
Lacy woke up screaming and hitting wildly. “No! No!” she yelled, thinking she was still lost in the woods with Chico. “I don’t want to die.”
“Shh, shh, you’re safe, Lacy. I’ve got you, baby.” Ryan picked her up and rocked her on his lap, kissing her face and wiping away her tears. “Chico can’t hurt you ever again.”
Lacy stopped crying and hugged Ryan back, laying her head on his shoulder, scared to open her eyes and find she was just drea
ming. “Is it over, Ryan? Really over?”
She opened her eyes and looked around at the unfamiliar bedroom filled with big oak furniture. She was in a large bed and covered with a plaid comforter, dressed in Ryan’s T-shirt and nothing else. Her feet were wrapped up in bandages and sore, but she couldn’t remember seeing a doctor. She remembered the cold dark woods and then nothing.
“This is my bedroom, baby. You’re at my house,” he explained when he saw her confused look. “Do you remember what happened last night?”
“I remember being scared and cold and running through the dark woods. Then you all found me and that’s it,” she said, shivering with the bad memories.
“Yeah, you had a bump on your head, your feet were cut up badly, and you passed out. I carried you to Doc’s house. He took care of your injuries,” he explained, picking up her wrapped wrists. They had been raw and bleeding from the rope.
“And Chico?” She was scared to ask, but she had to know if he was still running around loose. It would be a long time before she forgot that horrible night.
Ryan took a deep calming breath and answered Lacy in a steady voice although he was still angry with Chico. “After I left with you to Doc’s, the boys found Chico in the woods lost and running around in circles yelling for you like an idiot. He wouldn’t surrender and he attacked Gabe with his knife.”
Lacy gasped, putting her hand over her mouth. “Is Gabe okay?”
Ryan kissed her gently on her temple and smiled reassuringly. “Gabe is an excellent fighter, baby. He didn’t even get one little scratch.” He didn’t mention the many bruises Gabe had put on Chico before the fight was over.
“Where is Chico?” She tried not to feel afraid but she shivered when she thought of him.
“He’s in a cell at the station, waiting for Detective Garcia and some marshals to pick him up. I’m sure they arrived already. He’ll be put away for a long, long time. We will make sure of that, darlin’. And the boys won’t leave him alone until Detective Garcia arrives. You are safe. I promise,” Ryan told her, hating to see how affected she still was. He wanted to go down to the station and kill Chico once and for all. “I’m sorry I let you down, Lacy. I promised to protect you and I failed. I should’ve given you the lessons you wanted, but I was being a stubborn ass because I wanted to be the one protecting you. I wanted to be your hero. Because of my pride, you almost died.”
“You didn’t fail me! Ryan, don’t you know you already are my hero,” she protested. She rubbed his cheeks, loving his warmth. “Chico had been planning and watching for days. He was determined to make me pay. When I was lost in the woods and wanted to give up, I heard your voice in my head telling me not to give up. That’s why I survived, Ryan, because of you. I knew you wouldn’t stop until you found me. I believed that with all my heart. I knew you all were out there looking for me and that gave me the strength to keep going. I love your chivalry, Ryan, but every woman should be able to protect herself. That doesn’t make you weak or a bad protector.”
He nodded. “You are right, Lacy. I know you are a strong woman. You’ve proved that over and over. I’ll try to do better. I’ll be the best modern-thinking man you ever saw,” he teased and she smiled.
He held Lacy in his arms and felt her arms reach around his waist and she leaned against him, not saying anything more, just feeling her warm breath on his neck. She was his whole world and he would never take that for granted again.
Ryan thought back to last night when he had been so scared and knew Lacy’s fear was worse. He had watched her sleep all night, thanking God she was alive. When he had taken her to Doc’s house last night Doc had given her a sedative when she woke up screaming and hitting. It had broken his heart to see her that way, and he vowed to love and cherish her until her fears were driven away. She had told Doc she wasn’t raped, but Chico had touched her, and Ryan cried like a baby. After Doc was done treating her Ryan took Lacy to his house and put her in his bed. That’s where she belonged.
His mom had already been in to check up on Lacy, fussing over her, and went to work promising to give everyone the good news that Lacy would be fine and Chico was in jail. Lacy was well liked by the townspeople and they would all be relieved it was over.
He laid her back on the bed and covered her with the blanket. She grabbed his hand before he could leave. “Don’t leave me, Ryan. I don’t want to be alone,” she said, looking around the unfamiliar room. She felt like such a weakling for admitting that, but she still felt afraid.
He lay down next to her and put his arms around her, shielding her from her own fears. “You will never be alone again, baby. You’re stuck with me forever.”
“That’s fine with me.” She smiled, looking into his beautiful green eyes, seeing his suffering and pain but also seeing the love he felt for her clear as day. She sighed contently. She was home. “I thought I’d never see you again or be able to tell you that I love you and I want to stay here in Appledale with you. I don’t want to go back to Detroit.”
She waited tensely to see how he would react but his arms around her tightened and his body shook with the emotions he had been holding in. “I love you, Lacy. I wanted to tell you a long time ago but I was afraid. But no more. Fear doesn’t belong in our lives, Lacy, only honesty. I am so in love with you. I think about you every minute of every day and my heart smiles because I know I have you to come home to,” he whispered softly. “I don’t want to be without you ever again.”
She gave him a radiant smile but couldn’t speak. The overwhelming emotions were too much, so she leaned over and kissed him. Her tongue explored his mouth with hunger and love. He moaned, rubbing her arms softly up and down, careful not to hurt her injuries.
“Baby, I love you, and making love with you is my favorite thing to do in the world, but Doc said you should rest,” he said reluctantly. “And I need to get you something to eat so you can take some pain pills and antibiotics.”
“I want to feel your hands touching me, proving to me I am alive. I don’t want to close my eyes and see him touching me. I need you, Ryan, please,” she pleaded, looking at him with so much love. She was grateful to be alive and she wanted to celebrate. What better way than making love with the man she adored.
He looked down at her and groaned. “Doc will probably kick my ass, but I can’t resist those puppy dog eyes, you little minx.”
Lacy giggled. “Put all the blame on me.” She reached up and touched his face with her fingers. He hadn’t shaved yet and she loved the way his rough hairs felt on her skin. She felt the tears rolling down her cheek. “I need you inside me, Ryan. Heal me with your love.”
He smiled at her with such tenderness that she felt it shoot right to her heart. She was a lucky woman. He removed her T-shirt. “I don’t want to hurt your feet, so let me do all the work, baby.”
Lacy could see the angry look on his face from the bruises she had on her breasts. “I’m okay Ryan. All I need is you to make me feel better.”
Ryan removed his clothes and entered her slowly and gently, being careful not to hurt her feet. He loved her with such exquisite tenderness and ardor that she couldn’t stop the tears rolling down her cheeks as her body trembled, feeling the proof of his love. She had no doubts now. She held on to his shoulders as he set a slow, steady pace. “This is the best medicine. You and me like this.” she whispered against his cheek, sighing softly with happiness and thankfulness that she was here with her lover.
Afterwards he held her while she slept soundly and peacefully where she belonged and would never leave—in his arms.
* * * *
Lacy dressed with excitement for Ally’s party. Over the last week her physical injuries had healed, but Ryan was still being overprotective, not letting her lift a finger or go to the diner. Doc had given her the all clear to go back to work yesterday when he came to check on her. The cuts on her feet were gone. She still felt a little tenderness but no more pain.
Her emotional trauma wasn’t so easy to fix. Sh
e still had nightmares and wouldn’t go outside by the woods without Ryan. She couldn’t sleep without a little light on. Ryan had been so patient, but she felt so guilty that she couldn’t be braver.
Chico was in jail in Detroit where he would stay for a long time, she hoped. They had to go and testify and pack up Lacy’s things and empty her apartment out. She was a little melancholy about giving up the home she shared with her mom, but essentially it was just a place. The memories were branded in her mind and would last forever. They were just waiting for Detective Garcia to call with a date. But as long as Ryan was with her she wasn’t scared to get on the stand. It would make sure Chico would never be able to hurt another person again and then she could do her best to forget the whole ordeal.
She’d stayed at Ryan’s house all week long while he and Ally went to work each day. He’d carry her to the living room so she could watch TV and rest with her feet propped up on pillows, but she had slept most of the days away, letting her body heal.
Now she was bored and wanted people to talk to. She missed the diner and its customers a lot and told Ryan she was keeping her job. He looked like he wanted to argue with her but wisely held it in.
“You look too sexy, witch. Let’s stay home,” Ryan said as he walked into the bedroom and saw Lacy in her costume. He hugged her waist from behind and pulled her close so she could feel his erection.
The dress looked good on her but it was her smile and the happiness in her eyes that touched Ryan’s soul. He placed soft kisses along her neck, hoping to tempt her into staying home and making love all night. That was way better than a party any day, in his opinion.
